The Caribbean Association of Court Technology Users (CACTUS) was formed in 2003 to enable court technology users to come together to discuss issues that affected them, to share information about their organisations and to suggest solutions. The association fosters camaraderie and solidarity among technology users in regional territories and promotes the learning and use of industry best practices. It also creates a learning environment where attendees at the annual CACTUS conferences can be kept up to date with technological advances in courts in the region.
The first CACTUS conference was held in 2003 and was hosted by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Justice Adrian Saunders, delivered the opening address to the small group gathered at the City View Hotel in St Johns, Antigua. In the subsequent years CACTUS has met annually at the following locations:
- 2004 hosted by The Judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago – Port of Spain, Trinidad
- 2005 hosted by The Caribbean Court of Justice – Port of Spain, Trinidad
- 2006 hosted by The Ministry of Justice – Ocho Rios, Jamaica
- 2007 hosted by The Judiciary of the Bahamas – Nassau, The Bahamas
- 2008 hosted by The Judiciary of Curacao – Willemstad, Curacao
- 2009 hosted by The Caribbean Court of Justice – Port of Spain, Trinidad
- 2010 hosted by The Caribbean Court of Justice – Port of Spain, Trinidad
The 2012 CACTUS Conference was hosted by the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court from 2nd to 4th April 2012 in Grenada. The theme of this year’s conference was
Court Support Officers – Using technology to pave the way for advancement in the Courtrooms of the Caribbean.
There is a wealth of knowledge in the region and this conference is seen as a golden opportunity to understand the role of the Court Support Officer, share experiences and learn about court information technology. It also makes others aware of possible solutions that they can incorporate, that other courts in the region may be using, to better and more efficiently manage their processes. Attendees communicate with each other not only in a formal setting but also in various other activities during the conference thereby building relationships while strengthening regional ties.